Memorial Day weekend car shows to raise money for charities

TORRINGTON >> A pair of car shows coming up for Memorial Day weekend feature very different operational strategies, but both are chances for car owners and restorers to showcase their work for good causes.

The 22nd annual Oliver Wolcott Technical High School car show is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. in the front parking lot of the high school. The show was started by John Royals, a teacher at OWTS but according to his brother, Glenn Royals, the heavy lifting will be done by the students.

"The main thing is it's for the kids," said Glenn Royals. "We just guide the kids, is what we do."

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The centerpiece of the first show was a 1936 Ford truck, which many of the school's students had restored. Glenn Royals said the purpose of the show was to illustrate what they had done before a receptive audience.

"First of all," said Glenn Royals, "he wanted them to do work and be able to show that work to their parents and families."

Since then, the show -- which benefits the Tom Matulis and Royals Family scholarship funds -- has been in the hands of Oliver Wolcott Technical High School students, while teachers and adult volunteers are on hand to prepare refreshments and offer guidance. The actual operations, though, are left to the students, in part to help give them valuable experience.

"It's like running a business," said Glenn Royals. "When they do this show, everything has to add up."

The first 100 cars receive dash plaques, and trophies will be awarded for the best in show and students' choice. As is the case with the rest of the show, the decision on the latter category is up to the the students behind the show.

"We only go around with them," Glenn Royals said. "We're there for guidance, and we still want them to run their own show."

Friday also marks the beginning of a three-day commemoration of Trans Ams at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville. Since racing is banned on Sundays due to noise ordinances, exhibitors of muscle cars, tuners, imports and any other show-worthy vehicles will take to the track to showcase their pride on May 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"it's turned out to be a nice thing," said Glenn Royals of the Royals Garage Car Show. "You get to drive around the chicane of the track."

Sunday will be the fourth instalment of the Royals Garage Car Show, and as has been the case in previous shows, all proceeds will benefit a cause. Money from the first two shows went to the veterans' memorial wall at Torrington City Hall, and last year's show benefited the Lakeville Hose Company. But for this year, all of the proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project, which raises awareness of, and funds for, military service members who suffered severe injuries.

"We have so many veterans coming home hurt," said Glenn Royals.

Thanks to Skip Barber donating not only the track, but also the trophies and most of the other costs for the show, Glenn Royals said the show can donate the maximum amount possible to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Royals family picks up the tab for other expenses as well, since -- as Glenn Royals said -- "we want to give them as much as we can."